Italian 353.
Modern and Postmodern Italian Travel Literature
Taught in Italian
Professor Rhiannon Noel Welch
Department of Italian
84 College Avenue, Room 304
New Brunswick, NJ
rhiannon.welch@rutgers.edu
Office hours: M 12:30-1:30pm; W 11:30am-12:30pm
Course description:
In this seminar-style course (taught in Italian), we will analyze modern Italian travel writing. The
authors considered--from early twentieth-century playwright and novelist Luigi Pirandello to
postmodern authors Italo Calvino and Antonio Tabucchi--write about travel to everyday places
such as work and home, dream-like journeys to India, and imaginary travels to “invisible cities.”
Some of the questions we will consider are: is travel always about moving from one place to
another? How is travel linked to the process of writing and/or reading? Do we read/write in
order to travel, or do we travel in order to read/write? How does travel change our
understanding of “home”? Is there such thing as an “Italian” perspective on travel?
Authors to include: Luigi Pirandello, Elio Vittorini, Italo Calvino, Carlo Levi, and Antonio
Tabucchi.
Learning goals:
The goal of the course is to continue to develop students’ knowledge of Italian language and
culture through the reading of literary texts in Italian, in-class discussion, independent research,
and written work (papers, exams). By the end of the course, students will have a working
understanding of the political and historical contexts of twentieth-century Italy, an introduction
to theoretical and philosophical approaches to travel literature, as well as a deeper
understanding of a selection of critically acclaimed modern Italian literature.
Departmental Goals II and III: Cultural Proficiency and Professional Preparation.
Required texts (available at Barnes & Noble Rutgers University Bookstore):
1. Italo Calvino, Città invisibili (1972)
2. Elio Vittorini, Conversazione in Sicilia (1941)
3. Antonio Tabucchi, Notturno indiano (1984)
Additional primary readings available in PDF on Sakai:
1. Carlo Levi, “L’Italia e il treno,” in Le mille patrie (ca. 1950)
2. Luigi Pirandello, “Il treno ha fischiato,” in Novelle per un anno (1914)
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Critical essays available in PDF on Sakai:
1. Theodore Cachey, “An Italian Literary History of Travel.” Annali d’Italianistica, Vol. 14, 1996,
55-64.
2. Caren Kaplan, “This Question of Moving: Modernist Exile/Postmodern Tourism”
3. David Punter, “Architecture,” “Museums,” “Maps,” in Modernity
4. Jane Schneider, “The Dynamics of Neo-Orientalism in Italy,” in Italy’s “Southern Question”:
Orientalism in One Country
5. Georges Van den Abeele, “Introduction,” in Travel as Metaphor
Course Requirements and Grade Distribution:
Participation: 30%
Regular attendance and active participation in daily class discussions is required. Each class will
be dedicated to discussing the reading listed on the syllabus. Students should set aside enough
time in advance of each class meeting to complete the reading assignment (the reading load is
20-40 pages in Italian or English per class meeting). Each student must speak for at least 5
minutes in class each day in order to receive a passing grade. Students who come to class on
time with the readings in hand (novels, short stories, or articles in print—not digital—form)
having carefully read the material assigned for each class and prepared the discussion questions
assigned (up to 5 total per student per semester), and who pose thoughtful questions, offer their
insights consistently, communicate their thoughts effectively, and listen respectfully to the
contributions of other students will receive excellent participation grades.
Two papers: 40%
Two 3-4 page close-reading essays. Students will write two brief literary analysis papers in
Italian, focusing on one literary text of their choosing per paper. Alternatively, students may
choose to compare two texts. The papers should be analytical (not extended plot summaries)
and concise, and should concentrate on building an argument using textual evidence. Students
who have never written an analytical paper about a literary text at the university level should
discuss this with the professor, and are responsible for informing themselves well in advance of
the paper deadline about how to write such a paper. The professor will happily provide
students with a number of useful writing resources.
Midterm exam: 15%
Short response, identification, and brief essay questions on first half of course materials.
End of semester exam: 15%
Short response, identification, and brief essay questions on second half of course materials.
ATTENDANCE POLICY: Each student is allowed two absences per semester. I do not
distinguish between excused and unexcused absences. If a student misses more than two
classes in a semester, their final grade will be lowered one step (A becomes A-; A- becomes
B+; B+ becomes B; etc.). There are no exceptions to this policy. If you expect to miss one
or two classes, please use the University absence reporting website to indicate the date and
reason for your absence. An email is automatically sent to me. https://sims.rutgers.edu/ssra/
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ACCESSIBILITY ACCOMODATION: Students who would like to request special
assistance or accommodations must follow the procedures outlined at:
http://disabilityservices.rutgers.edu/request.html.
LATE OR MISSING WORK: Students are required to submit all written work in class on the
day it is due. Late papers are not accepted. In extreme cases, I will accept a late paper, but
points will be deducted for tardiness on a case-by-case basis. If you are unable to turn in an
assignment on time, you must inform the professor well ahead of time to make arrangements.
Last-minute emails do not constitute a good faith attempt to contact the professor in advance,
and are not likely to receive a favorable response.
Calendario delle lezioni
I.
mercoledì 5 settembre Presentazione del corso
II.
lunedì 10 sett
1. Theodore Cachey, “An Italian Literary History of Travel.”
Annali d’Italianistica, Vol. 14, 1996, 55-64.
2. David Punter, “Architecture,” “Museums,” “Maps,” in
Modernity.
merc 12 sett
1. Luigi Pirandello, “Il treno ha fischiato,” in Novelle per un anno
2. Carlo Levi, “L’Italia e il treno,” in Le mille patrie
III.
IV.
V.
VI.
VII.
VIII.
lun 17 sett
Jane Schneider, “The Dynamics of Neo-Orientalism in Italy,” in
Italy’s “Southern Question”: Orientalism in One Country
merc 19 sett
Elio Vittorini, Conversazione in Sicilia (Cap. I-V)
lun 24 sett
Elio Vittorini, Conversazione in Sicilia (Cap. VI-XI)
merc 26 sett
Elio Vittorini, Conversazione in Sicilia (Cap. XII-XVIII)
lun 1 ottobre
Elio Vittorini, Conversazione in Sicilia (Cap. XIX-XXV)
merc 3 ott
Elio Vittorini, Conversazione in Sicilia (Cap. XXVI-XXXIII)
lun 8 ott
Elio Vittorini, Conversazione in Sicilia (Cap. XXXIV-XLII)
merc 10 ott
Elio Vittorini, Conversazione in Sicilia (Cap. XLIII-fine)
lun 15 ott
1. Visione film: Danièle Huillet e Jean-Marie Straub, Sicilia!
2. CONSEGNARE SAGGIO 1 IN CLASSE
merc 17 ott
Georges Van den Abeele, “Introduction,” in Travel as Metaphor
lun 22 ott
Italo Calvino, Città invisibili (Parti I-II)
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IX.
X.
XI.
XII.
merc 24 ott
Italo Calvino, Città invisibili (Parti III-IV)
lun 29 ott
ESAME 1
merc 31 ott
Italo Calvino, Città invisibili (Parti V-VI)
lun 5 nov
Italo Calvino, Città invisibili (Parti VII-VIII)
merc 7 nov
Italo Calvino, Città invisibili (Parte IX-Postfazione di P.P. Pasolini)
lun 12 nov
Caren Kaplan, “This Question of Moving: Modernist
Exile/Postmodern Tourism”
merc 14 nov
Antonio Tabucchi, Notturno indiano (Cap. I-II)
lun 19 nov
Antonio Tabucchi, Notturno indiano (Cap. III-V)
merc 21 nov
THANKSGIVING
XIII. lun 26 nov
merc 28 nov
XIV. lun 3 dicembre
XV.
Antonio Tabucchi, Notturno indiano (Cap. VI-VII)
1. Antonio Tabucchi, Notturno indiano (Cap. VIII-X)
2. CONSEGNARE SAGGIO 2 IN CLASSE
Antonio Tabucchi, Notturno indiano (Cap. XI-fine)
merc 5 dic
Visione film: Alain Corneau, Nocturne Indien
lun 10 dic
Conclusioni
merc 12 dic
ESAME II
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